The Saudi Ministry of Tourism concluded a specialized program to support ten startup companies as part of its plan to achieve the goals of the National Tourism Strategy.
The strategy aims to attract 100 million tourists by 2030, triple tourism sector employment to 1.6 million people, and triple its contribution to GDP to 10 percent by 2030.
The General Manager of Innovators and Entrepreneurs Support at the Ministry of Tourism, Anas al-Shaaer, explained that the Tourism Pioneers Studio program supports the founders of emerging companies with expertise, knowledge, and possible tools to achieve accelerated growth and upgrade the tourism sector.
Shaaer told Asharq Al-Awsat that the program aims to boost national cadres and enable talented and innovative people to employ their capabilities to carry out activities in the tourism sector and reach new horizons.
It provides new opportunities and means of accessing the market, facilitating access to investors and decision-makers, and highlighting the pioneering system in the tourism sector.
He noted that it also facilitates participation in international and local conferences to transfer knowledge and access multiple markets, adding that it provides individual mentoring sessions by specialized experts for emerging companies.
The program seeks the support of innovators and entrepreneurs while linking them with global and local expertise.
It provides opportunities and ways to access the market through quality training courses and various networking meetings with the private and government sectors, according to Shaaer.
He noted that the program helps develop and qualify human capacities in the tourism sector and builds a strategic relationship with various sectors.
The program attracts startups offering innovative products and services in the sub-sectors, including tourist accommodation, food and beverages, land, air, sea, rail transport, travel agencies, and sports, entertainment, and cultural activities.
The Tourism Pioneers Studio is one of the programs of the Human Capital Development initiative launched by the Ministry of Tourism to prepare qualified national cadres with the highest international standards.
The initiative aims to qualify fresh graduates and job seekers and empower entrepreneurs and small and medium tourism establishments owners through a package of programs.
It aims to bring about a quantum leap that reflects the ambition of the growth of the tourism sector, enriching the tourist experience and contributing to Vision 2030.
